"The entire nation needs to work more, to produce more, so that the country's activity as a whole is greater over the year," said French Prime Minister François Bayrou on Tuesday, July 15, as he presented his 2026 budget. To increase the number of working days for the population, he notably proposed eliminating two public holidays, Easter Monday and May 8 – WWII Victory Day – while stating he was "open to other suggestions."

How much would eliminating one or more public holidays benefit the government? Which workers get these days off? Have public holidays ever been eliminated before? Does France really have as many public holidays as the prime minister suggests?

This widespread belief is actually a misconception: France does not have more public holidays than its neighbors. France has a total of 11 public holidays, which is slightly fewer than the European average of 11.8. There is also a special public holiday that commemorates the abolition of slavery in France's overseas departments and territories: April 27 in Mayotte; May 22 in Martinique; May 27 in Guadeloupe; June 10 in French Guiana; and December 20 in La Réunion. Additionally, employees in the departments of Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, and Moselle receive two extra days off: December 26 and Good Friday, which falls two days before Easter Sunday.

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